R Ashwin’s bold statements on India’s venue advantage controversy for Champions Trophy 2025

Speaking on his YouTube channel, former Indian bowler R Ashwin shut down the allegations of India having a venue advantage in Champions Trophy, stating that tournaments are won based on the team’s performance and not because of venues.

Written by Krishnakant Kukreti
Published: Mar 08, 2025, 02:56 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 08, 2025, 02:56 PM (IST)

Former Indian bowler Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on the controversy over India playing all their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai. India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the event, causing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to agree to host the event in a hybrid model. As a result, Dubai was chosen as a neutral venue.

This controversy was brought up by Michael Vaughan and Michael Atherton, which further got the support of South African batters Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller. Ashwin addressed this topic on his YouTube Channel and replied to all the critics by stating that tournaments are won on the basis of performance.

Ashwin pointed how the Indian team had to travel to nine different venues during the 2023 World Cup, further giving the example of South Africa in 2009 Champions Trophy, where they played all their matches at one venue but still failed to qualify.

“In the 2023 World Cup, we played at nine different venues. I was with the team, I traveled with the team. I agree with David Miller, a one and a half hour flight does increase lactic acid in your body. But you must understand it is not in the Indian team’s hands. The ICC has made the fixtures. This schedule was decided even before an Indian became ICC chief,” he said on his YouTube channel. 

“Tournaments are won on the basis of performances, not excuses.  I am laughing when people ask our captain and coach the same question about having an advantage playing in Dubai. In the 2009 Champions Trophy, South Africa played all their games at the same venue and even then they failed to qualify for the knockouts. It was not South Africa’s fault that they didn’t qualify then. Teams qualified only because they play good cricket,” he said.

India will now face New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be held on March 9 in Dubai. Since the men in Blue have already defeated the Black Caps once during the league stage matches, they will be confident to face the opposing team, and eventually lift the title this year.

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